A BUST has been unveiled in Worcester in honour of an inspirational late Archbishop of Canterbury who made it his mission to build a fairer world with education at its heart.

The bust of William Temple (1881-1944), the 98th Archbishop of Canterbury, was unveiled at the City Campus of the University of Worcester by the Bishop of Worcester on Thursday.

After a welcome by the vice chancellor and chief executive of the university, Professor David Green, the Right Reverend Dr John Inge pulled back the sheet to reveal the bust of the Archbishop who was the principal inspirer of the of the Malvern Conference where he presided in January 1941 at Malvern College. This conference played a critical role in the discussion on how British society might be better ordered after when the war was won, so that the riches of the nation might be more fairly shared, employment and wealth created, children educated, security in old age and infirmity assured as well as democracy secured. He was influential in bringing together the various churches of the country to support the Education Act of 1944. His influence also led to the formation of the British Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Archbishop Temple was ordained in 1909 and went on to become Bishop of Manchester from 1921 to 1929, Archbishop of of York from 1929 to 1942 and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1942 until his death two years later.

The bust itself was created and donated to the university by Victor Heyfron, artist and sculptor who lectured in art and philosophy between 1972 and 1990 at what was then Worcester College of Higher Education.